Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen had one of the most spectacular moments in badminton history as he played a sensational shot at the Paris Olympics 2024.
What made it more special was how quickly it went viral, with many even comparing his level to that of cricket icon Virat Kohli.
In his must-win match against the medal favourite and world no 4 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia, Sen produced a sensational behind-the-back flick shot that took everyone by surprise, including his visibly rattled opponent, sparking off a storm in social media.
The shot heavily echoing the spirit of that dramatic Kohli six over long-on to Haris Rauf at T20 World 2022 was a testament to both his incredible reflexes and hunger.
| Moment | Details |
|---|
| Shot of the match | Behind-the-back flick shot by Sen, turning the tide in his favor. |
| Viral sensation | The shot quickly went viral, earning comparisons to Kohli’s incredible shot. |
| Match score lead | Sen had a 19-18 lead when he executed the shot. |
| Final outcome | Sen took a 1-0 lead in the high-stakes match, eventually reaching the semifinals. |
With Sen having a 19-18 lead in the first game, Christie was playing on his term during one long rally.
Desperate to keep the shuttle in play, Sen actually got his racket behind him and was able to get it back over the net. Christie was still scrambling when Sen pulled off this miracle shot and sealed the rally to eventually take a 1-0 lead in the high-stakes match.
The Indian captain was instantly compared to his unforgettable six, where he hit a back-of-a-length delivery over extra-cover for a maximum despite India being in a hole at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2022.
Related articles : Badminton: Lakshya Sen Exits in Semifinals, Returns Without Medal from Paris Olympics
“Everybody wants to like Virat Kohli but me? I want to be the Virat Kohli of Indian badminton.”
Image Credit: Firstpost
Also, during the chat, after being shown memes of his shot’s comparison with Virat Kohli’s shot, Lakshya Sen was more than happy to be compared with him.
Sen also spoke openly on a podcast hosted by Ranveer Allahbadia about his love for Kohli and aims to match what the cricket star has done in badminton.
“Why not!” When asked about the comparison, Sen said in amazement He further said:
“Kohli ne bahut kuch diya hai Indian cricket ko, so hopefully I can become the Virat Kohli of Indian badminton in a couple of years from now.”
The young shuttler admitted that even though it was not a planned show, he executed once in a while during practice sessions and had never played such kind of badminton.
Sen’s scorching instant wasn’t a flash inside the pan but part of his wider journey to vindication in the Paris Olympics.
After beating Christie, Sen overcame Chou Tien-Chen in the quarterfinals to become the first Indian male shuttler to reach an Olympics semifinal.
It was a big moment for Indian badminton, following which there has been no stopping what can be called the golden generation of sport in India.
A heart-wrenching finish to what has been an amazing Sen’s show.
Sen’s Olympic experience ultimately resulted in him being able to make his debut appearance in the semifinals of any event, making it a taste of history for the paddler.
In the semifinals, he fought back from a slump of form to gain an advantage in both games against defending champion Viktor Axelsen before fading away.
The loss, however, did not hurt the spirit of Sen, who fought gallantly to reach the final, only to be outpMalaysia’salaysia’s Lee Zia Jia.
Sen, meanwhile, gave her close competition but ran out of gas against Zia Jia and finished just outside the medals.
Although it was not the desired Sen’s show, Sen’s show at the Paris Olympics 2024 indeed raised the bar for Indian badminton and prompted a new breed of players to think higher.
Whatever the immediate future holds for Lakshya Sen after his fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics, he will always be remembered as one of the stars of this game for long.
The fact that he aspires to be the Virat Kohli of Indian badminton speaks not just to his ambition, but to how far Indian athletes have come in recent years.
As he keeps progressing to make himself an even better player than now, the legacy of Lakshya Sen in Indian badminton will have even more room for new glory moments.
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References:
olympics.com/en
hindustantimes.com
